Jul 28, 2020 10:56
3 yrs ago
33 viewers *
French term

à défaut pour

French to English Law/Patents Law: Contract(s)
This has come up in the archives: https://www.proz.com/kudoz/french-to-english/law-contracts/1... ... but I already knew that as the meaning. I can't understand the usage/meaning in my case.

Online service agreement relating to a Web application. This is about an agreement with a business introducer. It's just said that XXX, which owns the application/platform, will have to process the introducer's personal data. So there's quite a bit of GDPR-related boilerplate ... then...

"
...
L’Apporteur dispose également du droit d’introduire une réclamation auprès de la Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés s’il considère que le traitement opéré par XXX constitue une violation de ses données personnelles.

En revanche, l’Apporteur reconnait expressément qu’il ne dispose pas du droit de s’opposer au traitement de ses données et du droit à leur effacement sauf à résilier le Contrat et le compte de l’Apporteur sur la plateforme, à défaut pour XXX de pouvoir exécuter le Contrat et communiquer avec lui à cet effet."

I apologise if, to you, the meaning of the latter sentence is a lucid as daylight ... and also makes sense. I think I've got something of a blind spot about it.

... "... should XXX be unable to perform the Contract and also unable to inform it that it has done so" ? Or could it mean "XXX will then be unable to perform ... "? But I still don't get the thing about communicating.

I'm wondering whether this is an elliptical way of expressing something a little less puzzling. Is this really about one party not being able to communicate with another? Or is this a potential drafting error?

Discussion

Mpoma (asker) Aug 16, 2020:
@Francois B I'm afraid not. Daryo's answer certainly is not "the translation" (as deduced, correctly I think, by me) which you can see a few entries back in the discussion... but the guidelines say "choose the answer which is most *helpful*". Your suggested answer does not coincide with my final understanding of the meaning: it is not (as I see things) "in the event of XXX failing to execute the contract", but "in the event of **the user** invoking their GDPR rights, leading to them terminating their contract and cancelling their account". Maybe you could go back and think about the translation as I have expressed it 5 discussion entries back. It is very far from your suggestion.
Francois Boye Aug 16, 2020:
Did Asker make the wrong choice?
Mpoma (asker) Aug 16, 2020:
final thought Just to clarify, what I conclude about this expression is that, structurally, it has two possible meanings: either "failing which, subject implements verb X (positive)" OR... (and I don't know whether this has been documented in grammar tomes anywhere, possibly because it is deemed too self-evident, or more likely because it is too obscure and rare) "in the event of which, subject does NOT implement verb X (negative)", which is the usage here. In other words, it appears that the "negative semantics" attached to défaut can apply either to the preceding clause, or to the following verb, as befits the context.
Daryo Jul 29, 2020:
That is slightly different, more or less my first suggestion, before I re-analysed the whole sentence.
But it's still good enough, as it's anyway just one more reminder of the applicable law - the GDPR does say anyway that data can be held and processed as long and in the way necessary for the performance of the contract - and THAT is what is applicable whatever you put (or not) in the contract.
ph-b (X) Jul 29, 2020:
Mpoma, I agree with your latest suggestion (09:19).
Mpoma (asker) Jul 29, 2020:
What I put in the end "However, the Introducer expressly acknowledges that it does not have the right to object to the processing of its data, or the right to delete it, unless the Contract is terminated and the Introducer's account on the platform is cancelled, in which case XXX would be unable to perform the Contract or inform the Introducer thereof."

Thanks to everyone who helped with this.
ph-b (X) Jul 29, 2020:
Mpoma, In a less formal context, you would have something like À défaut*, X ne pourra ni exécuter le contrat ni communiquer sur ce point** where 1) * À défaut = if the data is deleted (the introducer may not delete the data, but if they do so, i.e. à défaut), X won’t be able to… and to… and 2) **sur ce point = "regarding this", i.e. unable to communicate with the introducer about the fact that X will not be able to… and to… (presumably because deleting the data will include deleting contractual contact details).
Daryo Jul 28, 2020:
After saying "what else"
and rereading again and again the whole text, I did finally found a slightly different interpretation, based on the fact that

"sauf à résilier le Contrat et le compte de l’Apporteur sur la plateforme"

is only an inserted part, so "à défaut" relates to what comes before that inserted part.

It is a tricky text.
Mpoma (asker) Jul 28, 2020:
@SafeTex Yes, I think I've been guilty of making a mountain out of a taupinière.

Just one lingering thing though: as communiquer is in the infinitive it might go with pouvoir... "in order for XXX to be able to perform the Contract and to be able to communicate with it to that effect" or it might stand on its own: "in order for XXX to be able to perform the Contract and in order to communicate with it to that effect".

In both cases the fact of communicating is conditional... on something.

Either way, once again, I'm just wondering whether that is about the fact that if this "personal data" is deleted this also means that XXX wouldn't, after that, have any contact details for the introducer, so wouldn't be able to contact them. Actually such an explanation is unnecessary for a translation: the English translation can be as uncommitted/vague/unexplained on the point as the French source. I just have an itch to understand what it's about.
SafeTex Jul 28, 2020:
failing that/without which = otherwise Hello
My reading is like Tony M's in this discussion:

"Failing that/without which" means if they don't cancel their account, then XXX is able to execute the contract and notifies the client of this
You could also use "otherwise":

The client can cancel his account, otherwise, XXX notifies the client that it is proceeding to execute the contract.

Tony M Jul 28, 2020:
@ Asker No, that's the exact opposite of what I was trying to suggest: if Apporteur fails to refuse, then XXX can continue as originally planned
It's all about reading it with the 'sauf à... [mais] à défaut (de l'avoir fait)...'

I think they're just trying to say that execution of the agreement and Apporteur's membership are contingent on their not refusing...
ph-b (X) Jul 28, 2020:
Mpoma, Sorry, not sure I understand the last bit of your previous post (from "and does not...") PS: OK, I see you've changed it now. So my understanding is that the data may not be deleted because, if this happens, X will not be in a position to perform the contract.
Mpoma (asker) Jul 28, 2020:
@Tony I just re-read your early discussion post: so you believe that it is saying that if the introducer objects ... and/or deletes ... that that must mean the termination of the contract ... but then that XXX can go ahead anyway.

My reading is that it is saying the opposite (!): that in that case XXX can't (in fact won't be able to) perform the contract.

I'd be interested in others could say which of these interpretations (if either) they share.
Mpoma (asker) Jul 28, 2020:
@ph-b yes... I think others agree with that: so à défaut means "failing which XXX will not be able to perform... ": in other words the défaut is looking back to the preceding eventuality, and does not relate to a voluntary choice by XXX, i.e. "if" in "if XXX fails to" (<--- this is NOT the meaning).
ph-b (X) Jul 28, 2020:
GRPD I suspect this is about GRPD, since CNIL gets mentioned. What GRPD says is that in some "legitimate" cases, data can be processed. See recital 47 (etc.). What I understand here (en (très) gros), is that Apporteur may not delete the data if it is processed on the basis of X's legitimate interests, since that would mean X is not in a position to perform the contract. Something like that? EDIT: "...would not be in a position..."
Mpoma (asker) Jul 28, 2020:
@ph-b You're right about the presence of de. But I am not clear what this sentence means to you... as you are a native Francophone it would be valuable to know. Are you suggesting the meaning here is "if XXX fails to perform (or to communicate to this effect)"??? Surely this doesn't fit at all, does it? Surely the phrase after à défaut is the consequence of an "if" concerning what the apporteur does or doesn't do?

Confused... !
Mpoma (asker) Jul 28, 2020:
a theory...? I don't get why they didn't say " .... et, à défaut, XXX ne pourra exécuter le Contrat ni communiquer à cet effet". It seems like this is the meaning others believe it to have.

Could the communication thing just be to do with the fact that if the personal data is deleted XXX will indeed lack a means of contacting the introducer?
ph-b (X) Jul 28, 2020:
B D Finch, You're misreading the French: "À défaut, pour X, de...», i.e. "if X fails to". EDIT: "(If the data is deleted), X will not be able to..."
B D Finch Jul 28, 2020:
@ph-b It's "à défaut pour" here, not "à défaut de".// To avoid adding another comment, I'll edit this one. Yes, those commas you inserted would make a difference and clarify things.
ph-b (X) Jul 28, 2020:
Mpoma, Apologies for 2? 3? edits, but that p tag just isn't working, even though the preview looks fine.
Tony M Jul 28, 2020:
@ Ph-B Great, thanks for confirming my purely linguistic interpretation.
Is the infinitive not possible is we consider it as being a gerund (= substantive)? As you say, deprecated or not, we do see it a lot, at least in texts other than legal ones.
ph-b (X) Jul 28, 2020:
Mpoma, L’expression à défaut de signifie « dans le cas d’un manque de », « en l’absence de ». On peut la faire suivre d’un nom de chose, d’un nom de personne ou d’un adverbe, mais non d’un verbe à l’infinitif...https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/clefsfp-srch?lang=fra&srch...

Ignore the ban on infinitives. Indeed, from the same people: Défaut de + infinitif. Pour certains jurilinguistes, la construction défaut de + infinitif est un calque de l’anglais failure to. D’autres jurilinguistes l’acceptent. Défaut de comparaître. Défaut de plaider. https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2guides/guides/clefsfp/...

See also: À/au défaut de (qqc., qqn). En l'absence de. (Quasi-) synon. faute de.Je voulais qu'à défaut de terre consacrée, elle eût au moins un chaste linceul. https://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/défaut And again: À DÉFAUT DE : dans le cas d'un manque de… Le Grand Robert de la langue français.

[EDIT] See post at 16.39
Daryo Jul 28, 2020:
à défaut pour XXX de pouvoir exécuter le Contrat et communiquer avec lui à cet effet.

à cet effet = "l'effet" est de "pouvoir exécuter le Contrat"

i.e. it is in fact a reference to an immediately preceding element of the sentence, no problems about that;

so in practice it would include anything related to "exécuter le Contrat", and as it's about "communications" it would be "any communications related to the contract"
Tony M Jul 28, 2020:
@ Asker Yes, that's how I read it: the Apporteur does NOT have the right to oppose the use of their details, except by (sauf à) cancelling the contract and their account... but failing this (i.e. if they don't do so), then XXX can go ahead as planned, but will them they they are doing so.
Mpoma (asker) Jul 28, 2020:
@Daryo Thanks for the suggestion... but, and maybe I'm being overly pernickety, à cet effet is a very specific expression, quite specifically referring to an immediately preceding thing, and not just any old thing, but a purpose, an intention.

To me it can't therefore (unless the drafting is defective) just refer to "anything related to the contract".
Mpoma (asker) Jul 28, 2020:
@Tony Reading? I just re-read again twice after your post. Surely the idea is that the apporteur is being told hereby that it must NOT raise an objection to processing of its personal data by XXX... In other words, by my reading, XXX requires that it is able to process these details, and if the introducer says "no, I don't want you processing my personal data" the contract can't be performed.
Tony M Jul 28, 2020:
@ Asker Surely 'communiquer' simply means that if 'Apporteur' fails to do whatever is necessary to oppose the use of their details, XXX will go ahead and use them, and will notify them that this is the case. You know "As you haven't told us you don't want us to..., we are going ahead and doing so."
Daryo Jul 28, 2020:
"communiquer avec lui" = XXX to "communicate with" lui=l’Apporteur

it's simply about talking to / sending all sort of messages/"communications" - i.e. as long there is a contract there is a presumption that "exchange of messages" / "communications" between the parties about anything related to the contract is ongoing - allowed and necessary.

Mpoma (asker) Jul 28, 2020:
Thanks Interesting. Of course à défaut if taken in isolation would refer to preceding clause, and lead one in this direction. It never even occurred to me that this might be so. Told you I had a blind spot!

This at first seemed to me to be quite bad grammar, which would make it different to the rest of the contract, and the other contracts (there are several). But I can see how a construction of this kind could fly...

If this is the meaning I still don't really understand about the communication angle: if the objection and/or request for deletion is not made then XXX will be fine about communicating ... communicating about what? And why would raising an objection to processing hinder this? ... hmm.

Oh, maybe "failing which XXX shall be able to perform and let the introducer know that it can perform", or words to that effect ... ? The end of that clause would still be rather puzzling and redundant-seeming in that case, for me.
Tony M Jul 28, 2020:
@ Asker "failing which..." XXX shall be able to...
Daryo Jul 28, 2020:
En revanche, l’Apporteur reconnaît expressément qu’il ne dispose pas du droit de s’opposer au traitement de ses données et du droit à leur effacement sauf à résilier le Contrat et le compte de l’Apporteur sur la plateforme, à défaut pour XXX de pouvoir exécuter le Contrat et communiquer avec lui à cet effet."

I would interpret it as

En revanche, l’Apporteur reconnaît expressément qu’il ne dispose pas du droit de s’opposer au traitement de ses données et du droit à leur effacement sauf à résilier le Contrat et le compte de l’Apporteur sur la plateforme,

à défaut (= au cas où l’Apporteur n'a pas encore résilié le Contrat et son compte sur la plateforme = la résiliation du contrat "fait défaut" / n'est pas encore intervenue)

(dans ce cas-là) pour XXX de pouvoir exécuter le Contrat et communiquer avec lui à cet effet."

= tant que l’Apporteur n'a pas encore résilié le Contrat et son compte sur la plateforme, XXX a le droit de traiter les données de l’Apporteur dans la mesure où cela est nécessaire pour "pouvoir exécuter le Contrat et communiquer avec l’Apporteur à cet effet"

Can't see what else would make much sense.

Proposed translations

-2
10 hrs
French term (edited): à défaut pour XYZ de pouvoir (exécuter le Contrat et communiquer avec lui à cet effet)
Selected

as otherwise it would not be possible for XYZ (to ...)


l’Apporteur reconnaît expressément qu’il ne dispose pas du droit de s’opposer au traitement de ses données et du droit à leur effacement [...] à défaut pour XXX de pouvoir exécuter le Contrat et communiquer avec lui à cet effet"
=
... l’Apporteur acknowledges explicitly that they have no right to oppose the processing of their data nor the right to request its deletion [...] as otherwise (i.e. if that acknowledgment were to be missing) XYZ wouldn't be able to perform the contract nor communicate with them ( l’Apporteur) to that end.


if you look at the whole of
(A)
L’Apporteur dispose également du droit d’introduire une réclamation auprès de la Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés s’il considère que le traitement opéré par XYZ constitue une violation de ses données personnelles.
(B)
En revanche, l’Apporteur reconnait expressément qu’il ne dispose pas du droit de s’opposer au traitement de ses données et du droit à leur effacement sauf à résilier le Contrat et le compte de l’Apporteur sur la plateforme, à défaut pour XYZ de pouvoir exécuter le Contrat et communiquer avec lui à cet effet."

the contrast between (A) and (B) is about what l’Apporteur can or can not do about their personal data being used by XYZ

(A) is another example of the law (that would apply anyway) being repeated in the text of the contract - no more than a reminder of the rights of L’Apporteur

(B) is about l’Apporteur explicitly acknowledging that as long there is a contract with XYZ, XYZ will have the right to use the personal data of L’Apporteur to the extent necessary for the execution of the contract "as otherwise it would be impossible for XYZ to execute/perform the contract"

in

l’Apporteur reconnaît expressément qu’il ne dispose pas du droit de s’opposer au traitement de ses données et du droit à leur effacement sauf à résilier le Contrat et le compte de l’Apporteur sur la plateforme, à défaut pour XXX de pouvoir exécuter le Contrat et communiquer avec lui à cet effet."

"sauf à résilier le Contrat et le compte de l’Apporteur sur la plateforme"

is an inserted part, just a digression from the main flow; the main clause is:

... l’Apporteur reconnaît expressément qu’il ne dispose pas du droit de s’opposer au traitement de ses données et du droit à leur effacement [...] à défaut pour XYZ de pouvoir exécuter le Contrat et communiquer avec lui à cet effet"

so "à défaut" relates to l’Apporteur recognising that they have no right to oppose the processing of their data nor the right to demand their deletion. i.e. if that "express acknowledgment" happened to be missing (faire défaut), XYZ couldn't execute/perform the contract nor communicate with l’Apporteur.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2020-07-28 21:54:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

so it is "failing which / otherwise"

but the element that shouldn't be missing is the "express acknowledgment that ...", the part about cancelling the contract is just an inserted digression

Peer comment(s):

disagree Adrian MM. : an artificial parsing of a set phrase, plus execute the contract is a false friend meaning sign vs. *perform* it. XXX cannot be taken to have NB repudiated the contract though able & willing to perform and advise as much. // cut to your *pouvoir* twist.
1 hr
OK for "perform" but you are blissfully ignoring the specific context of this ST. It's not about anyone's "willingness" or "repudiation" it's about rights to use personal data. Start by correctly analysing the whole sentence first? Just an idea ...
disagree AllegroTrans : This really much too clonky and confusing
16 hrs
Confusing??? Certainly is if looking at a whole sentence is too confusing. Would love to see what would you do with a sentence spread over a page or two ... with sub-sub clauses to no end.
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks. My ultimate interpretation of this is closest to the first of yours, here. In fact, not least bearing in mind the context, I can't see how anything else could possibly work."
+1
35 mins

without prejudice to; notwithstanding

In using lateral thinking Cockney finking/ Irish tinking to construe this document - rather than interpreting a piece of legislation - pls. note that the phrase would go on with a persent participle of being able or allowed to: pace PhB a 'gerundive'.

Also note carefully AMM's comment on the German 'equivalent' in the 2nd. web ref.
Note from asker:
Thanks. For me "notwithstanding" is synonymous with "despite". Is this how you mean it here? So "The Introducer acknowledges that it is not entitled to object to processing of its data or to delete it, unless the Contract and the account are terminated, ***despite*** XXX not being able to perform the Contract and communicate to this effect"? I don't see how that can be the meaning: if XXX is not able to perform, independently of what the introducer does, all bets were off anyway.
Peer comment(s):

agree AllegroTrans : I think "notwithstanding" does it neatly here
49 mins
Thanks, AT.
agree ph-b (X) : I agree with "notwithstanding" (notwithstanding X not being able to...). See discussion. Or perhaps not - did I misunderstand you "notwithstanding"?
2 hrs
You understood right.
neutral philgoddard : I.!!
4 hrs
2. !!
disagree Daryo : I can't see that kind of connection / relation between the elements of this sentence. Why don't you apply your own recipe - the one about the wood and the trees?
9 hrs
Better to try and see the wood for the trees and work out what the drafting is trying to put across.
Something went wrong...
1 hr

in general so that / by default, so that

While "in general" isn't the usual way one would translate "à défaut", I think that is how one would express this in English. Having set out that the Introducer or Contributor has granted XXX rights over their personal information, it goes on to say that the purpose of this is:

in general, so that XXX can execute the Contract and communicate with them to that end.
Peer comment(s):

neutral Daryo : " by default" sounds like a false friend - that would be "par défaut", not "à défaut"
7 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 day 7 hrs

in the event of XXX failing to execute the Contract

The text is not clearly written. Instead of 'à défaut pour XXX de pouvoir exécuter le Contrat et communiquer avec lui à cet effet', the text should be written this way:.
'à défaut de ce que XXX ne puisse pas exécuter le Contrat et communiquer avec lui à cet effet."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 14 hrs (2020-07-30 01:03:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Erratum: PUISSE instead of NE puisse PAS
Something went wrong...
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